Explore & Serve Day 2026: Pre-med and Pre-health Students Share Contributions to Research and Community

On April 9, 2026, the Division of Pre-medical and Pre-health (PMPH) Programs held the ninth annual Explore & Serve Day at the Health Sciences Building. This event highlights pre-med/pre-health students’ outstanding contributions to biomedical science research and community service endeavors. 

This year’s event theme was “Just Show Up! The Power of Presence, Perspective, Privilege & Partnership” and included a keynote address by Annette Gadegbeku, MD, associate professor and chief of the Division of Community Health in the Department of Family, Community & Preventive Medicine, and senior associate dean of the Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence. The event also featured a presentation from The Legacy Center Archives and Special Collections, a mindfulness and movement session led by Dr. Brandy-Joe Milliron and the MedFit group, as well as an art therapy activity led by Sara Haggerty, a graduate student in the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions Creative Arts Therapies and Counseling Program. 

Two Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Program students gave oral presentations on the potential inflammatory effects of polypharmacy, and the correlation between collaborative songwriting and emotional resilience in pediatric patients. There was also an oral presentation given by Drexel Dragon Claws, a graduate student-led organization founded by a group of students in the PMPH programs. During the poster session, six posters featured laboratory, clinical and independent research, and 15 community service and volunteering posters were presented by students. 

Muriel Oppong (MS ’27) and Ishrat Prokreety (MS ’27) received the Douglas Baird Award for Healthcare Equity for their project titled “The Body Empowerment Project.” The award was created in recognition of the outstanding efforts put forth by Douglas Baird, PhD, director of curricular innovation and student success for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, as Course Director of the PMPH Community Dimensions of Medicine (CDM) course.Oppong and Prokreety were selected for their contributions to delivering prevention-focused programming and supporting discussions that foster healthier relationships with body image and wellness, with a focus on providing counseling services to underserved students in Philadelphia. 

To learn more about Explore & Serve Day, contact Anita Gaurnier-Hausser at alg349@drexel.edu.

Explore & Serve Day 2065 Photos